Boston is a city of historic squares, parks, and public spaces that remain popular spots for locals to socialize and enjoy the outdoors.
One of the most well-known landmarks in Boston is the Bunker Hill Monument, a colossal obelisk built to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill. The 294-step climb to the top is a challenge for kids of all ages and offers stunning views of the city.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Faneuil Hall Marketplace (also known as Quincy Market) offers more than 100 shops and artisan pushcarts right on Boston’s famed Freedom Trail. It’s a mix of international brands, local retailers and street performers with top restaurants, pubs and food stalls.
A lively marketplace, Faneuil Hall Marketplace has been a central meeting place for Bostonians since the 1740s. Today, this historic landmark is a fun spot for families with kids of all ages.
It is also a great place to visit for an in-depth look at Boston’s history, with free tours of the Great Hall and Military Museum and Armory on the second floor.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace also boasts an array of renowned street performers, from magicians and jugglers to fire-eaters and unicyclists. The performers have been entertaining visitors at the marketplace for years, and you can catch a show every day.
Forest Hills Cemetery
The 275-acre Forest Hills Cemetery is both a historic site and an open-air museum, as well as a green space and arboretum. It’s set among Greater Boston’s famous Emerald Necklace of parks and green spaces (the “jewels”), a national treasure trove of natural splendor and man-made beauty.
It was founded in 1848 to provide a place where people could bury their loved ones in a park-like setting. This unique approach to burial was born of practical public-health concerns and shifting attitudes toward death.
The picturesque landscape design features meandering paths and scenic vistas, terraced overlooks, and ornamental features like lovely lake Hibiscus. It’s where many of Boston’s leading historic, cultural and civic figures are buried. Including abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, industrialist Frances Cabot Lowell and poets Anne Sexton and E.E. Cummings.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a treasure trove of European, Asian and American art. Originally modeled after a 15th-century Venetian palace, the museum’s three floors of gorgeous galleries surrounding an indoor flower-filled courtyard provide a stunning backdrop to one of Boston’s most impressive collections of masterpieces.
The museum’s mission is to celebrate personal connections with art. Its extensive collection, which has grown to include more than 2,500 works, ranges from ancient sculpture to contemporary paintings.
Visitors can explore the galleries on their own or participate in a variety of programs. The museum regularly produces scholarly exhibitions, lectures, family programs and symposia that offer a deeper understanding of the collection’s history. In addition, the museum hosts an Artist-in-Residence program that offers creative opportunities for artists from a wide range of disciplines.
New England Aquarium
The New England Aquarium is a must-visit Boston attraction that is packed with thousands of fascinating aquatic animals. Whether you are looking for the largest shark and ray touch tank on the East Coast or the four-story Giant Ocean Tank, home to Myrtle the green sea turtle, there is something for everyone at this popular attraction!
The Aquarium is located on Central Wharf, right on the waterfront, offering beautiful views of Boston Harbor. It is also conveniently located just a short walk from Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market.
Boston Common
Originally established by the Puritans in 1634, Boston Common is one of America’s oldest public parks. Throughout its long history, it’s been used for pasturing, doing laundry, dumping, burying, and conducting militia exercises.
The Common is a prime spot to visit on the Freedom Trail, an urban walking tour that takes visitors to 16 of Boston’s most important historical sites. The park is also a popular gathering place for concerts and other types of events.
It’s also home to the Frog Pond, which is open year-round for a variety of activities. In the winter, it’s an ice skating rink and in the summer it becomes a spray pool for kids to enjoy.
